Dr. Karen Otazo
Global Leadership Network

Optimizing Executive Talent

          The Truth About Managing Your Career...And Nothing But The Truth
What do we know, really know about achieving exceptional career success? What are the best ways to get on the fast track, and stay there? This book reveals what really works.


Part I: The Truth about Starting a New Job
1. Hitting the Ground Running Can Get You Into Trouble
2. Act Dumb and Think Dirty: The Less You Say the More You Learn
3. Having Made the Move You Should Grow Where You’re Planted
4. Take Ownership of your Job Without Stepping on Toes
5. It’s Important to Know who Knows What: Build your Circle of Information
6. Recognizing Whom to Trust Keeps You from Getting Burned

Part II: The truth about working with bosses
7. Honor Your Boss: It Pays to Adjust to the Way Your Boss Likes to Do Things
8. Your Boss Can Make or Break Your Reputation
9. Kiss the Ring; Hierarchy Matters!
10. You Can Learn A Lot From Dealing With a Bad Boss

Part III: The truth about working with others
11. Thrifty Executives Keep Goodwill Accounts Full
12. Appreciating Diversity Increases Others’ Appreciation of You
13. Good Listening Means Tuning in to your Speaker
14. Criticism Works Best When It’s Compassionate
15. Promptness Matters: Begin and End Meetings on Time
16. Confidentiality Counts

Part IV: The truth about networking
17. Good Networking Is About Enjoying the Conversation
18. People Love To Be Asked Their Opinion
19. You Have More Connections to More People than you Think
20. Commonalities Cement Relationships
21. Social Talk is Social Grease

Part V: The Truth about Getting Things Done
22. “Closing the Sale” is About Gauging the Right Moment to Ask For What You Want
23. Putting the Bottom Line First Leads to Focused Action
24. Obstacles at Work are there to be Negotiated
25. Support Staff Deserve Give As Well As Take

Part VI: The truth about managing your workload
26. Good Prioritizing Means Factoring Urgency Against Importance
27. Knowing How To Say “No” Is a Key Time Management Tool
28. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Be Clear On Roles and Responsibilities
29. Good Filing Saves Your Time and Reputation
30. Promises Made; Promises Kept: Finishing on Time Matters

Part VII: The truth about getting your point across
31. The Medium Really Is The Message: Match Your Message to Your Audience
32. People Remember Beginnings and Endings
33. It Pays To Get People In The Right Frame Of Mind
34. Some Questions Are Actually Statements: Be Ready For Them
35. Meetings and Conference Calls are Key Opportunities to Make an Impression
36. Email is Easy to Use and Easy to Abuse

Part VIII : The truth about dealing with enemies and antibodies
37. In All Things Moderation: You Get Back What You Put Out
38. Cards Should Be Played Close To Your Vest
39. Don’t Explain and Don’t Complain: No-One Wants Whining
40. Be a Force For The Positive: It’s Best To Buck Up When You’re Down
41. A Teflon Temperament is the Best Armor

Part IX: The truth about making the right impression
42. Think Central Casting: Looking the Part Matters
43. Sounding the Part Matters Too!
44. Mind Your Manners!
45. Entrances and Exits Matter
46. Your Work Space Reflects Who You Are (And Who You Want to Be)

Part X: The truth about getting noticed
47. Every Presentation is an Opportunity for You to Shine
48. Everyone Has Their ‘Story On the Street’
49. How You Move Suggests Your Position in the Company
50. If You Want It to be Remembered, Put It In Writing

Part XI: The truth about getting ahead
51. It’s Your Job To Prove That You’re Ready For The Next Level
52. The Feel-Good Factor Fosters Commitment From Others
53. Likeability Means Leverage
54. Work is a Game And One Worth Playing Well
55. Speaking with Impact Requires Pause and Punch

Part XII: The truth about moving on
56. Good Career Planning Requires You To Know Yourself
57. Moving Up Means Letting Go
58. The Grass Isn’t Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence
59. Career Derailment Can Happen At Any Time
60. When You’ve Run Out of Real Estate It’s Time to Move